Florida's Latest News

Florida Chamber rolls out first wave of legislative endorsements

The Florida Chamber of Commerce released its first round of legislative endorsements Thursday, backing more than 80 candidates running for state legislative seats in a slate dominated by incumbent Republicans.

The Chamber said the endorsements are largely based on how each lawmaker scored on the organization’s annual Legislative Report Card, which tracks votes on issues affecting the state’s business community.

“The Florida Chamber has a long and proven track record of endorsing and electing candidates who stand for the pro-jobs policies necessary to continue Florida’s momentum towards a top 10 global economy,” Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson said in a news release.

“We trust these proven incumbent and former legislators to continue to make Florida’s future a priority by focusing on job creation and further economic opportunity for all Florida families and local businesses.”

How many tons of invasive Burmese pythons were captured in Florida this season?

Four tons of invasive Burmese pythons were removed from South Florida ecosystems during the latest breeding season, setting a record for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

The achievement marks a new milestone in the fight against the giant snakes, which are considered one of the greatest threats to the Everglades ecosystem because of their ability to prey on mammals, birds and other native wildlife.

The Conservancy said it removed more python biomass this season than at any point since launching its research and removal program in 2013.

“This marks the greatest biomass of invasive Burmese pythons removed in a single season by the Conservancy’s python tracking team and volunteers since the program began”, the organization said on its website.

Miami gets ready to host FIFA Fan Festival on Saturday: "Welcome to Miami's second stadium"

The official FIFA Fan Festival is set to open Saturday at Bayfront Park, transforming the downtown waterfront into a massive fan zone for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The free, open-air festival will run for 23 days, offering soccer fans and families a chance to experience the tournament's excitement, even without match tickets.

City leaders are calling the site "Miami's second stadium". Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins welcomed the event at a preview, stating, "Welcome to Miami's Second Stadium."...

...The FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee reports a surge in short-term rental bookings, with Airbnb reservations already up more than 200%. Rodney Barreto, co-chair of the host committee, highlighted the ripple effect on local services. "It all starts at the airport," Barreto said. "People get here. They need an Uber, Lyft, or to rent a car. Then they need a hotel room, then they need places to eat".

Commissioner Christine King said hosting World Cup-related events is a "major win" for local communities and businesses.

Qualified for ballot, Blaise Ingoglia carries more than $6M into first CFO campaign

State CFO and Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia, appointed last year to the role by Gov. Ron DeSantis, has qualified for his first statewide ballot test. And he’s well-fortified for the fight ahead.

The Spring Hill Republican, a previous chair of the Republican Party of Florida who served as a state legislator and Senator, has plenty of money and momentum already for the General Election campaign based on a review of activity through May 31 in his campaign account and two affiliated political committees.

In the last two months, Ingoglia raised more than $168,000 to his campaign account, from 199 contributions, pushing the total brought in to nearly $1.15 million. He spent nearly $42,500 during the same period, and retained roughly $940,000 in campaign cash as of May 31.

The Friends of Blaise Ingoglia account saw the most activity during April and May, with more than $305,000 brought in. The committee carries nearly $4.4 million as of the latest report. Of the 54 donors during the two-month fundraising period, nearly a third were in construction, real estate, or the roofing industry.